Rome Food

This post will be about extraordinary food, dishes you need to eat in Rome!

since we walked to much a lot of meals came from random restaurants on little side streets.

Side street equals less expensive....and probably the farther you go from Rome Historic Neighborhood the less expensive it will be.

Nevertheless I had the best Italian food I've had in years. What is up with that wonderful food?

I have no idea! But everything is tastier, fresher and the way things are supposed to taste like!

Bottled water? Light as air, eggs? orange yolks, meat? so tasty!

Is it the air? I don't know but everything tasted better.

and the cheese OMG!

 If you go to Rome and you want to eat a real typical but unknown dish...

this is the one for you! Carciofi alla Judea or Artichokes Jewish style.

the artichokes are flattened  and deep fried.

Even if I have been to Rome before I had never tasted that and it was definitely on my bucket list!

This did not disappoint!

The petals are just like chips and the inside is soft and comforting!

 Caprese salad. You haven't had a good Capprese salad until you've visited Italy.

What is up with the cheese and those tomatoes??? Don't forget to add balsamic vinegar...

so good!

I don't know if this is a typical Rome dish, but my Dad made a lot of these.

So of course I had to try it...

Very good, very fresh.

In that restaurant....you could tell that they were accepting of tourists but not fans of tourists.

But the food was so good that I had to go back and I actually ordered everything in Italian!

I could tell that the owner was very proud of this!

from a tourist trap sort of....

 This meal was amazing as well....even if it came 

Fritura Mista or mixed fried thingies...lol

Calamari and shrimps and fried spaghetti.

I wish I could get a whole plate of those shrimps!

They were sooooo good!

Dan my amazing co pilot loved the salmon!

Although those meals were more expensive...you need to factor in

the fact that the food tasted amazing!

More adventures on another day!

R.I.P. Tony

This morning at 6:50 am...While at my desk in my home office, reading my work emails

I got the news that Anthony Bourdain passed. That news shook me to the core.

I had never experienced that live of pain for someone I've never met.

I sat there at my desk unable to work anymore, just staring at my keyboard.

Then I got a text: Bourdain is dead! from my friend M.

I don't remember how exactly I heard of Anthony Bourdain....Maybe it was when we got a channel unlock and we got the travel channel....or was it from a book review?

all I know is that he took my culinary knowledge to the next level! I know most of the strange and exotic ingredients because of him and my curiosity.

I watched all the No Reservations episodes, then I found A Cook's Tour, The Layover, Parts Unknown and I read all his books....some multiple times.

I loved his curiosity...He wanted to visit countries we never heard of or did not want to visit....He ate weird stuff, he visited families in their homes and was always appreciative and gracious about it.

He really appreciated the time and effort that was put in a meal.

I loved that he was a load mouth opinionated man that did not care for mediocrity.

His tweets were legendary.

I am so sad for his family, his little girl, his girlfriend...

no little girl should loose her Dad.....

Bye for now

Eating in Rome on a budget

Technically we were not on a budget but as we did the math.....somethings became superfluous.

Food can be really expensive in Rome so you have to choose wisely.

I was really excited to check out McDonald's in Rome because of the special menu items and they did not disappoint!

 Omelet with cheese and ham. Very good like I would make

at home.

If you watch Masterchef, Joe Bastianich did a collab with McDonald's Italy

for  a line of limited time burgers.

 Both were very fresh and tasty, not like fastfood.

Unfortunately I could not find the picture of my favorite find at McDonald's....

Croquette di spinacchi con Parmeggiano Reggiano. 

it is a small round patty of spinach and parmesan cheese, crispy fried.

I swear if they sold these at my grocery store in Montreal, I would buy some

all the time! perfect as an appetizer!

 Certain restaurants offer service at the table.....

You can order wine and beer.

we also noticed that the taste of all the items was better. all ingredients

are sourced in Italy and that makes a difference...trust me

The coffees are top rate and more than affordable!

They also serve a fresh squeezed blood orange juice! So delicious!

An espresso is 1 Euro, which is $1.50 CAD or $1.17 USD

Cappuccinos were 1,60 Euros or $1.87 USD or $2.42 CAD.

So a usual McDonald's breakfast in Rome was 12 Euros, or $18.00 CAD or $14.00 USD.

I know it sounds expensive for 2 cappuccinos, 1 scrambled egg with bacon and english muffin, 1 ham and cheese omelet with english muffin and 1 water bottle...but it was the best deal we could find.

One morning we went across the street from our hotel and for 14 Euros we got 2 cappuccinos (5 Euros each) and we split an order of toast with ham and cheese (4 Euros).

Cappuccinos varied between 1,60 Euros (MsDonald's to 7 Euros.....or $8.17 USD or $10.50 CAD)

What?WHAT?WHAT????

One of the cool places I found to eat on a budget is

you can get a pasta dish for 4 Euros everyday, fresh pasta! There was always a HUGE line up

so we did't get to try it.

You can also get panini for around 3,50 Euros , $4.08 USD or $5.29 CAD which is also

a great deal because I've seen $10 dollar sandwhiches in downtown Montreal.

so yes it is possible to eat on a budget in Rome!